Stabilizing supporting device for bodies on water



Ju1 5,1932. S R 1,866,200

STABILIZING SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR BODIES 0N WATER Filed March 2, 1952 Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL 31513, 015 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK V srasrmzme surronrme nnvrcnr'onsomns 0N WATER Application filed March 2, 1932. Serial N0.V596,250.:

body on a liquid by creating a plurality of V m distributed areas of supportso arranged as to maintain the body in predetermined or upright position. 4

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class alluded to hav 15 ing a plurality of buoyant elements disposed in spaced relationto each other around a body and in preferably close coaction therewith, certain of said elements being so interrelated as to produce a streamlined effect facilitating movement of the body through or along a fluid medium; and another object is to furnish a device as aforementioned having improved means associated therewith which may be adapted for actuating or pro- 2 pelling the body, and which may, if desired, afford a supplemental buoyant force thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means for interengaging I 30 the buoyant elements, and whereby individual attachment of said elements may be obtained, if desired; and wherein the elements may be easily and conveniently applied to a body and may be connected therewith as a unit if required, with said elements affording ample opportunity for different movements of the body and support thereof as in upright, sitting or floating positions, without impeding any desired motions of the to limbs; and said device'being relatively light in weight, neat in appearance, inexpensive to manufacture and durable, reliable and eflicient to a high degree in use; said device being especially applicable for use in rough as seas; together with an improved method for safeguarding people against drowning while permitting them to travel along the water.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specificato tions proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and'arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated' on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated-by the samerefer ence characters throughout the several views. Inthedrawingz. I i,, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a device embodying-the invention, showingthe same'in upright position.

a Fig. 2- is a side viewthereof in floating position. y V

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the device with oer.- QQ tain parts removed. l I Fig.4 is a bottom plan view of a paddling device embodying a feature of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a top planview of a modifieddevice.v l The advantages of theinvention as here outlined are best realizedwhen all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful-devices may be produced embodying less than H the whole. 5 r

It will be obvious tothose skilled in the art to which this invention appertains', that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying 8Q drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention; i 7

Generally described, this invention pro vides a means for effectively supporting 5 bodies of any 'kind in'or on different fluid mediums preferably inuniformly stabilized relation; More particularly-the invention refers to devices for use with animate bodies, such as humanbeings in liquids such :as water. Each of said devices may include a plu rality of buoyant elements of any suitable or well known character, as, for instance," hollow thin walled members which are closed againstentrance thereinto of the liquid sustaining medium. These members may be of different sizes,'shapes, materials or construction, and it is sufficient that theyare light in weight and so arranged and constructed individually and collectively as to facilitate attainment of the objects in view. The invention resides principally in so correlating these members and in so associating the same with the person as to support the same in a stabilized position, this latter term having reference to the maintenance of the person in any required relation, for example, in upright or other position, except in so far as the person may desire to change his position, and then to permit the changed position to be readily maintained independently of or under the control of the person. Moreover, the device may be so arranged, as by streamlining or otherwise of individual members or groups thereof or both, as to facilitate ease or freedom of movement of the person along the water. Specifically, the device may include a plurality of'the buoyant members, such as ball floats, of relatively large diameterdisposedin spaced relation to each other around the bodyof the wearer in close proximity thereto, at a-point intermediate the ends of the body, as at the waist'thereof. Two of saidballs may be'arranged in front of the wearer, onebeing adjacent to'each side of the body and twoarranged at the back of the wearer in a corresponding manner. Hence the front and rear balls provide. sup ports or pontoons elongated transversely of the wearers body and" in the direction of normal forward movement of said body; at the same time, said'balls afiord support to the body at every possible direction, whereby the person may freely safelyturn in any direction, and be safeguarded against overturning by a powerful wave or the like. Other buoyant elements, such asball floats, preferably of relativelysmall size may-be disposed along the head, or back or arms, or any combination thereof, and anywhere else on the body as may be required, affording one or more additional localized or regional distributed supporting means ofany auxiliary nature. Thus the auxiliary supporting means may be regarded as in the nature of providing forces along one or a plurality of spaced lines elongated along the wearers body. 7 The various buoyant members may be interengaged as by connectionwith a means extending around the wearers body, such as a suitthat may be waterproof, if desired, or strap or'chain elements as may be feasible. This device is to be distinguished from ordinary floats or life belts which are ineffective to maintain a person in upright position. "By means of this invention, a person can remain upright, and use his feet to propel him along the water, or maintain a sitting or floating position. Paddle-like'devices may be attached to the limbs or constitute parts of the wearers shoes, and may be of buoyant character, and so arranged as to permit a propelling action by a substantially normal to and fro movement of the legs as in walking. Referring in detail to the drawing,:10' denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may include a persons body 11, and a means 12 extending transversely thereof and projecting along the normal path of travel of said person for buoyantly supporting him. By disposing said means intermediate the ends ofthe body, as at the waistline 13, the body is readily maintained upright, and freedom of movement of the limbs is afforded. The means 12 may include a plurality of buoyant members 14 suitably spaced from each other around the body so as to stabilize the same from every possible direction. Spe cifically, four of said members may be provided, two arranged at the front in proximity to the sides of the body and two similarly arranged at the rear of. the body. Thus each pair of front and rear membersprovides an elongated buoyant support 15 which permits easy movement of the person through the water.

While each buoyant member 14 maybe made in different shapes and of different materials, it will sufiice to point out one particular embodiment. Each buoyant member may be similarly constructed as a hollow ball, for instance, that may be made of a thin light material, flexible or rigid in character, and may consist of metal. The members 14 may be evacuated but are preferably air filled to avoid undue strainsthereon and by reason of their sphericalform, are well adapted to take up anystresses that may'occur. These membersare preferably relatively large, say 15 inches in diameter, but they may be larger or smaller according to the buoyant forces required. I For closely engaging the buoyant members with the persons body, any suitable means may be provided, such as elongated tension elements in the nature of chains or straps. For example, a belt'16 may extend around the wearers body, and supplemental straps 17, 18 may extend respectively upward therefrom over the shoulders and downward along the legs and around the feet. straps 18 may be securedby straps 19, 20 extendingaround the legs.

For connecting the buoyant members 14 with the beltl6, any feasible fastening means may be used: acting for instance, at the points 21. These fastening means may be permanent or detachable in nature,,and may consist of strong snap fasteners of any convent-ional nature. Hence the buoyant members may be connected as. desired. and in any case are securely maintained. on the belt.

It will be understood that, if desired, a suitable water tight suit 22 may be provided for the person, and while the buoyant members might be connected with the suit, they are preferably mounted as above described. The suit may be positioned below the strap members.

To afford additional support for the per- The son, a supplemental means 23 including a plurality of relatively smaller buoyant elements 24 disposed along the wearers body may be provided. These elements may be of the same general nature, construction and appearance as the elements 14, and are preferably arranged in one or more spaced rows extending, for instance, longitudinally of the wearers body. Thus rows 25, 26 of the elements may extend along the back and opposite sides of the wearers head, respectively. These rows may be mounted in any suitable manner, as by being attached to a head covering 27, of waterproof, or any other character, and which may he held in position by a chin strap 28. Other I'OWs 29, 30, 31 of the elements 24 may extend respectively centrally along the front and back of the wearer, and along his shoulders and arms. The elements 24 may also be disposed elsewhere along the wearers body and in different arrangements. The rows 29, 30, 31 may be mounted by heing fixedly or detachably connected to any suitable means such as the suit 22 which will have adequate strength-for the purpose. By means of the elements 24, the person is adequately supported as in floating position, and

his head reliably kept out of the water, andyet, due to the distribution of the elements 24, the weight thereof is fully distributed so that freedom of action is maintained, and the person is supported evenly in different positions.

To facilitate movement of the device or person through or along the water, an actuating means such as paddle devices 32 may be associated with the limbs, and preferably with the wearers legs. For instance, shoes 33 may be provided that may be waterproof or not, and which may have buoyant members 34 that may be streamlined or so arranged as to act as paddles in the normal to and fro movement of the wearers limbs as in Walking. Specifically, the members 34 may be connected at the sole portions of the shoes, and may consist of thin walled metal air tight devices, each being of triangular form with a front edge 35 and rear face 36 of large area, transversely convexed to afford efficient paddling action. The heel portions of the shoes may have connected thereto elements 37 of any desired nature for maintaining an even level of the shoes with the members 34.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification of the invention which may in all respects besimilar to the device 12 shown in Fig. 1, except that the buoyant members 14 are replaced by buoyant elements 38 that are arranged to ac centuate the streamlined effect in the direction of normal travel of a person as shown by arrow 39. Thus a pair of the elements 3.8 may form a pontoon like device 40 that is especially well adapted for movement with little resistance through the water. Each element 38 may have a curved free end 41,

belt at iting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims.

I claim: 1. A device for the purpose specified comprising a harness adapted to be secured about the body of a swimmer, said harness comprising a belt portion, a plurality of buoyant elements secured to said belt, a pair of shoulder straps attached to the belt portion at the front and at the rear of the swimmers body, a pair of leg straps attached to said belt at the opposite sides of the body at one end and attached at their other ends to the belt adjacent the front of the body, said leg straps passing down under the instep of the swimmers foot and having spacing straps I a secured thereto approximately at the knee of the swimmer and at the ankle portion of the leg, substantially as set forth.

2. A device for the purpose specified comprising a harness adapted to be secured about the body of a swimmer, said harness comprising a belt portion having a plurality of buoyant elements secured thereto, a pair of shoul-g der straps attached to the belt portion at the front and at the rear of the swimmers body,a air of leg straps attached to the said 51c opposite sides of the body at one end and attached at their other ends to the belt adjacent the front of the body, said leg straps having spacing straps secured thereto approximately at-the .knee of the swimmer and at the ankle portion of the leg, said leg straps passing under the instep of the shoes I of the swimmer, substantially as set forth.

3. A device of the kind described adapted to support a swimmer in the water comprising a belt having a plurality of relatively large buoyant elements or floats secured thereto and having shoulder straps secured at the front and back to support the belt and the buoyant elements or floats upon the body of the swimmer and having a plurality of leg straps secured at their outer ends to the belt at opposite sides of the body of the swimmer and having their inner ends attached to the belt adjacent the front of the V swimmers body, said leg straps passing down under the instep of the swimmers foot and having spacing and securing bands about the leg of the swimmer adjacent the knee and other bands about the leg adjacent the ankle portion, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SAMUEL FEIR. 

